exploration drilling

It was a chilly day on the frozen lake but when you dress for the occasion it’s just another day at work. We hammered out this photo/video shoot with Epiroc in 1 day and even though the sun was high, the temperature was far below the freezing mark. Just like having the proper tools for the job when you are prepared, you work more efficiently as well as being safe from the environment you are surrounded in.

It was in the high 20’s during the day with sun beating down on us, keeping us warm while the crew worked the diamond drill but as the day turned to evening the temps dropped, your skin cooled and the warm glow of the sunset faded into the crests of the outline mountains.

After touring around the #PDAC2108 tradeshow this past Monday I realized that I have been photographing some of my industrial clients for over 15 years now. My very first glimpse into the Exploration Industry was with Atlas Copco & Brenda Hamilton photographing a line of Hobic ITH Diamond Drilling Bits. Over the years Brenda kept calling me back for new images in different locations and I am still creating images for her and her team at Epiroc today. It’s relationships like this that make my career a choice that I do not regret. Brenda, thanks for being a great client and more importantly a great friend.

One aspect of my job that I enjoy is the challenge of new locations. I can picture the finished image in my head with what information I have on hand but the plan usually changes once I am on site and see what we have to work with. Each location is different and hosts challenges different from the last shoot but that is what gets my creative juices flowing. A few weeks ago I was out on location in Kirkland Lake with Epiroc to create some new images while working beside Clark Marketing Communications who were creating their latest video. When you have that much creative talent in one area it’s hard not to feed off each others energy as we circled around each other bouncing ideas back and forth. Check out the latest video showcasing Epiroc’s latest line of Diamond Tools with a few images I created during the shoot that are incorporated throughout the video.

Here you can see how I used the edge of the canister for my setup while using the large doors to manipulate the amount of light casting onto the bits.

Reaming Shells which are manufactured to withstand difficult drilling conditions and provide long life are ment to be long lasting. Like the shell a quality high impact image can withstand difficult economic conditions and also provide long life throughout your marketing campaign. A solid image should focus on the product, person, or process and enhance the marketing material it is presented with. See my Crap VS Snap Gallery and see the difference.

Professional Mining Industrial & Commercial photography created by James Hodgins @miningphotog

Now that 2016 is in full swing in the mining industrial sectors it’s time to start thinking about this years marketing materials and online portfolio. Trade show season is only a few months away and you don’t want to leave it until the last minute so you are scrambling for images for your presentations, trade show booths, investor reports and online updates. A full day shoot can yield high quality “wow factor” images that can be used throughout the year without repeating the use of images. I will work directly with your creative marketing team to formulate a shoot schedule and scenario list that would work best for your company.

James Hodgins from Sudbury Ontario is a professional Mining Industrial Commercial photographer with over 20 years experience.

Depending on the environment you see it in, the bucket from a dragline can look pretty small when you compare it to the beast it’s attached to, but when you get up close and personal with it (like doing repairs) you quickly realize it’s a giant among men.

Sudbury Mining industrial photographer is based out of the mining Province of Ontario Canada.

In the Mining/Industrial fields there is a fine line between an artistic and profitable image that companies use. With image editing software at everyone’s fingertips I am noticing a lot of images that are “over processed” in post editing. Anyone can do it, usually it’s a click of a button in any editing software or phone app. Now I am not saying this is a bad thing, heck I have some images in my portfolio that some consider over processed (and I agree) but these images were used for a specific purpose and 90% of the time are used for my own personal motives.

What I am seeing though is entire websites with over processed, painterly, HDR images. These might look great and I know they look amazing on your walls as an “art piece” but it does draw away from what the image actually represents which should be an accurate depiction of your products, staff, processes and facilities when placed in your website galleries and marketing material. Stick with the basics of good lighting, exposures and subject matter and you can’t go wrong.

Artistic plugin added. Great for personal use but not for marketing materials.

Sudbury Mining industrial photographer is based out of the mining Province of Ontario Canada.